Agartala, Sept 15: An elephant that crossed over from Bangladesh recently caused extensive damage to crops and rubber plantations at Chagoldema, a bordering village in Tripura’s Unakoti district.
The elephant, believed to have wandered across the international border, created significant destruction in the area. The villagers immediately notified the local Forest guards, prompting them to relocate the jumbo the following day to Rangrung village for treatment.
The situation took a twist when several individuals laid claim to the elephant. Initially, a forest officer considered transferring the elephant to a local businessman, but the presence of the media led to a change of plans. The official later emphasized that the final decision would rest with higher authorities.
Experts suspect the elephant hails from Bangladesh due to the absence of an identification chip, typically implanted in Indian elephants. Additionally, injuries on the animal, likely caused by the border fence, further support this theory. The elephant was eventually transferred to the Mungiakami Forest Reserve in Khowai district for rehabilitation.
The incident has sparked concerns among the local villagers, with worries that damaged sections of the border fence could lead to more cross-border wildlife incursions in the future.
According to sources, the jumbo’s owner is expected to arrive in Tripura with proper documentation to take it back to Bangladesh.